The End of All Things (24 Feb. 2012)

Peter and the Fringe team take extraordinary measures in an attempt to stop life-threatening events.

Director:

Jeffrey G. Hunt

Writers:

J.J. Abrams (creator), Alex Kurtzman (creator),

Stars:

Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Anna Torv	...	Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson	...	Peter Bishop
Lance Reddick	...	Phillip Broyles
Blair Brown	...	Nina Sharp / Alternate Nina Sharp
Jasika Nicole	...	Astrid Farnsworth
Seth Gabel	...	Lincoln Lee
John Noble	...	Dr. Walter Bishop
Michael Cerveris	...	The Observer
Jared Harris	...	David Robert Jones
Monte Markham	...	Leland Spivey
Eugene Lipinski	...	December
Amos Stern	...	July
Steve Weller	...	March (as Steven Weller)

Storyline

Peter and the Fringe team take extraordinary measures in an attempt to stop life-threatening events.

---

Plot Keywords:

torture | interrogation | abduction

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 2012 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Robot, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (high definition)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The brain activity readout on the computer screen has "Mr. X" as September's name.

---

Goofs

The battery clamp over Nina's right hand is put on twice. The first time the window shade is raised and again a minute later in background.

---

Soundtracks

"Fringe Main Title Theme"
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by J.J. Abrams

User Reviews

Predictable story, questionable shapeshifters, surreal sequence, missing other side, some sloppiness, thrilling lightning

This episode convinced me that if I had to choose between the other side and the shapeshifters I would definitely pick the first. Indeed, like many viewers I suppose, I quickly understood that the real Nina Sharp had actually been framed by a shapeshifter. So her torture didn't move me because I just knew it was a fake. In fact I just can't grasp why their division and specially Walter haven't come yet with a solution to make the difference between humans and shapeshifters. Considering their special abilities, like the one revealed by David Jones at the end, and evil motives there're probably plenty of things that make them what they are. From organic patterns at the atomic level to brain configurations they should have been able to detect that the Nina they captured was a woman, without having to check out her anus of course.

The surreal sequence in September's mind was phenomenal and served by immersive visual effects. However I wish it had been more dynamic because it was obvious Joshua Jackson wasn't walking or anything probably not to mess up the lighting or something. Still even if Peter's mental dive was hastily set up it was reminiscent of fascinating productions like Contact (1997) and Cube 2 : Hypercube. As for the impact it had, beside helping Peter to make his decision regarding Olivia, well it made me miss Fauxlivia and the alt-characters even more. Would it have been too hard to enrich the latest episodes with parallel elements ? If the time of convergence has come then Peter should have tried to involve both sides. Walternate is supposed to help him but we haven't seen him for a while and all we got are freaks of the week, even if I really enjoyed them and found the writers intertwined approach interesting and well executed.

My other complain would go to the lack of attention to details. I still consider the division's security is terrible. Peter going back to his home without even a bodyguard after what happened ? Jones armed minion coming way too close beside Peter ? I know they already have a lot of things to cover in such a short time but I wish some events were more believable, specially when they're action-driven. At least Olivia's switching on the lights was thrilling and the only thing missing was an electrified haircut for Anna Torv or some sort of reference to Storm, the comics character.

Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.